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I Can Only Imagine 2
2026
Following the breakout success of the song 'I Can Only Imagine', MercyMe's Bart Millard is living the dream—sold-out arenas, a devoted fanbase, and a thriving career. But behind the spotlight, Bart's past threatens the family he's built, especially the fragile bond with his son Sam. When hopeful newcomer Tim Timmons joins the band for their biggest tour yet, he unknowingly brings a renewed gratitude to Bart's life through their unlikely friendship. Bart soon discovers that Tim carries hardships—and secrets—of his own, forcing him to face his past and repair his relationships with Sam and his wife Shannon before fame costs him what matters most.
Brent McCorkle
Director · Known for I Can Only Imagine 2
Brent McCorkle (born February 2, 1973) is an American director, writer, editor and composer, best known for his involvement in the Christian film industry, including Unconditional (2020), I Can Only Imagine (2018), its upcoming 2026 sequel, Unsung Hero (2020), and Jesus Revolution (2023).
J. Michael Finley
Cast · Known for I Can Only Imagine 2
John Michael Finley was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas and raised in Lebanon, Missouri. He is the second of five children born to Wayne and Betsy Finley. He began singing and acting in Junior High. He attended Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts and began his professional acting career in Chicago and surrounding areas. His stage credits include Chicago theaters such as Lyric Opera of Chicago, Paramount Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Writers' Theatre, Court Theatre, and Mercury Theatre. Finley moved to New York City in 2015 where he made his Broadway debut in the ensemble of Les Miserables and as the understudy for Jean Valjean. I Can Only Imagine is his first film. Following completion of I Can Only Imagine, Finley returned to Broadway as the Standby for Elder Cunningham in The Book of Mormon. In 2018, Finley made his West End debut in the role of Elder Cunningham in The Book of Mormon. That year, he made his big screen debut as Christian singer-songwriter Bart Milland in I Can Only Imagine, for which he received acclaim. He will reprise this role in the 2026 sequel.
Salome Jens
Salome Jens (born May 8, 1935 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an American actress. She is perhaps best-known for portraying the Female Changeling on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. She also appeared in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation as an "Ancient humanoid", a member of the race responsible for populating the galaxy with humanoid life forms. She had previously played Clark Kent's mother Martha Kent on the popular TV series Superboy. She also appeared in the 1966 film Seconds by John Frankenheimer, in a 1963 episode of The Outer Limits, "Corpus Earthling," and in 1981's Harry's War. She also appeared in the "I Spy" episode "A Room with a Rack" in 1967, as a globe-trotting pilot friend of Kelly Robinson and Alexander Scott. Jens graduated Bay View High School with a 96 average and was crowned Miss Bay View at the long running South Shore Water Frolics. Later in life she remarked that "the only time I can imagine contemplating suicide would be if I was told that I had to go back and live in Milwaukee forever." She has been married twice, first to film actor Ralph Meeker, and then to television personality Lee Leonard. Her performances in the theatre have been rare but well regarded. She nabbed the lion's share of attention in the small role of "The Thief" in the New York premiere production of Jean Genet's The Balcony. She won excellent notices playing Josie in A Moon for the Misbegotten at the downtown Circle-in-the-Square theatre in the late 1960's in New York, and she did a Cleopatra at Stratford. Jens' debut was in the title role of Terror from the Year 5000, which was later featured in the 8th Season of Mystery Science Theater 3000. She subsequently had major roles in Angel Baby and the television series Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. In 1971, she also appeared as a widow with two children in the 1971 Gunsmoke episode, "Captain Sligo," with Richard Basehart in the title role as an Irish cattle buyer who courts her. She has a very distinctive and sultry voice, and has also narrated a number of documentaries including The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century and the film "Clan of the Cave Bear" starring Darryl Hannah.
Bart Millard
Producer · Known for I Can Only Imagine 2
Bart Marshall Millard is an American Christian singer/songwriter, the front man of the Christian-Contemporary rock band, MercyMe. His father's untimely death led him to write the multi-platinum, award winning hit song, "I Can Only Imagine" which later was made into a movie by the amazing Erwin brothers.
Obba Babatundé
Cast · Known for The Eye, That Thing You Do!, S.W.A.T.
Obba Babatundé (born December 1, 1951) is an American actor of stage and screen, known for his Emmy-nominated performance in the television movie Miss Evers' Boys, a NAACP Image Award-nominated performance in the TV movie Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, and a Tony Award-nominated role for his performance as C.C. White in the original cast of the 1981 Broadway musical Dreamgirls. Babatundé was a protege of Sammy Davis, Jr., who said of him, "This is the only cat who can do everything I can do." Babatundé does dance, sing, play instruments, execute impersonations, including his portrayal of Davis, aided by their similarity in energy, size and talent, tap dancing and performing on multiple instruments. In fall 2009, Babatundé played Davis in the title role of "Sammy: Once in a Lifetime," a world premiere musical at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. Early in 2000, Babatundé partnered with writer/producer Ruth Adkins Robinson for a series of TV projects including "TV in Black: The First 50 Years," "Oscar's Black Odyssey: From Hattie to Hallie" and "Dorthy Dandridge: An American Beauty". The pair have projects that will take them through 2011. His TV roles have often portrayed authority figures, such as a recurring guest-starring role as a high school principal on Dawson's Creek, an appearance as a judge in a two-part episode of Any Day Now, and as the father of the main characters on Half & Half. He also played Harvard college Dean Cain in the movie How High, as well as the role of Willie Long in the movie Life, and co-starred as an attorney in Philadelphia and as a senator in the 2004 reprise of The Manchurian Candidate. He also played the director in season 3 of Friends in an episode titled "The One with All the Jealousy". Other TV shows he has had recurring roles on include The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Chicago Hope, Rocket Power, Static Shock, and Karen Sisco. He played a small but pivotal role as a doorman/bellhop in the film That Thing You Do! and also appeared in The Wild Thornberrys Movie as the voice of Boko. He played a famous producer known as Gordy Berry on two episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In the 1998 miniseries, The Temptations, he played the founder of Motown Records Berry Gordy. Babatundé is adept at American sign language and had used this talent in many roles including on one NYPD Blue. His recorded work includes a performance with the New York pianist Onaje Allan Gumbs on the 2007 album Sack Full of Dreams. The actor/producer is also an avid horseman and is a highly regarded rider and trainer in the Rodeo Circuit, including the annual Bill Pickett Rodeol. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Elizabeth Pan
Elizabeth Pan was born and raised in the Los Angeles suburb of Thousand Oaks, California where she grew up learning to speak both English and Mandarin Chinese at the same time. Elizabeth’s auspicious stage career started in the 5th Grade when she played the posterior end of Nana the Dog in Westlake Elementary’s production of “Peter Pan.” It could only go up from there. In her junior year at UCLA, Elizabeth attended a production of Miss Saigon at Los Angeles’ premier theater company, Center Theatre Group and signed up for acting lessons the next day. Elizabeth studied classical theater at the Royal National Theatre in London, the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco and The Antaeus Company in Los Angeles. A few years later, Elizabeth was back at Center Theater Group but this time as a lead actor in the critically acclaimed production of Jessica Hagedorn’s “Dogeaters” at the Kirk Douglas Theater. She has worked on some of the most prestigious stages in Southern California. The LA Weekly theatre critic said of her performance in Chay Yew’s adaptation of The Cherry Orchard, “I can not remember anything in theatre as heartbreaking…Pan’s eyes are glistening pieces of obsidian and her wounded silence is unbearable.” Elizabeth originated the lead role of Chinadoll in Damon Chua’s “Film Chinois” which won the 2007 Ovation Award for Best New Play. Elizabeth currently works extensively in film, television, stage, commercials and voiceovers. You have seen her in guest star and co-star roles on FOX, NBC, ABC and CBS. Her voice is on various commercials, television shows, films and video games including “Penguins of Madagascar (Dreamworks)”, “ The Regular Show (The Cartoon Network)”, and “Mr. Robot (USA Network)”. Elizabeth can be seen on national commercials including Progressive Insurance, HSBC and Canada Dry. She loves hiking in the mountains around her home in Los Angeles, cooking for other people, especially if vegan food is involved and is plotting world domination through real estate.
Christopher Muncke
Cast · Known for American Playhouse
Christopher Muncke (July 24, 1942 – April 6, 2022) was an American actor who played Captain Edmos Khurgee in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. He retired from acting in 1990, transitioning to a career as a schoolteacher. In an interview, Muncke said that his only contact in the film industry after his retirement was "when I am fortunate enough to be invited to events where I can meet and chat with Fans whether they are part of what I like to call our Star Wars Fan Family."
Jevetta Steele
Jevetta Steele (born November 11, 1963) is an American R&B and gospel music singer. Born and raised in Gary, Indiana, Steele eventually migrated to Minneapolis, Minnesota to become a criminal lawyer. Steele later embarked upon a solo career within music and the stage. She also went on to be a member of gospel group The Steeles along with her sister Jearlyn and three brothers. In 1983, Steele landed the lead role of Ismene in the touring show, The Gospel at Colonus. She went on to appear in productions of Smokey Joe's Cafe, Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, Ain't Misbehavin', Crowns, and Double Infidelities. She later composed the musical Two Queens, One Castle, which opened to critical acclaim. Bob Telson, the composer of The Gospel at Colonus, used Jevetta Steele as a singer for different soundtracks he worked on. A collaboration with Telson has become her most well-known lead vocal performance, on the 1988 Telson-penned song "Calling You" from the movie soundtrack of Bagdad Café. The song was nominated for an Academy Award. The song was released as Steele's debut single and became a big airplay hit around Europe, as well as achieving top 10 positions in Sweden and in France, where she was especially successful. The success in France led to a recording contract there and in 1989 she released a follow-up single, again produced by Telson, titled "I Will Remember", which failed to chart. Starting in 1988, Steele, on her own or with her singing family group The Steeles, became a very much in-demand session singer. It was through those sessions that she met Prince and his associates, and worked closely with him providing vocals on his records and the artists he produced from the period 1989–1995. At the same time as these sessions, Steele worked on her debut album, Here It Is. Primarily recorded at Paisley Park and produced by Tommy LiPuma, Ricky Peterson and Maurice White, the album was first issued only in France during 1991 and was later reissued in 1993. Steele's debut album reached No. 15 on the Blues & Soul UK Hiplist chart. The LP also included her hit "Calling You", and featured a cover of Dionne Warwick's "Say A Little Prayer For You". That same year, Steele's group The Steeles released their debut album Heaven Help Us All. Steele can also be heard on the soundtrack of the 1994 film Corrina, Corrina singing "Over the Rainbow". She has recorded and toured with Prince, George Clinton, 10,000 Maniacs, and Mavis Staples. She appeared on the album Memorial Beach, recorded by the Norwegian group a-ha, performing backing vocals on the songs "Lie Down in Darkness" and "Move to Memphis". Her most recent album is a 2006 collection of original and classic jazz selections called My Heart. Steele is married, and has three children. Source: Article "Jevetta Steele" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Dolores Gray
Dolores Gray (June 7, 1924 – June 26, 2002) was an American stage and film actress. During her successful music career, she sang Marilyn Monroe's part on the Decca records soundtrack album of There's No Business Like Show Business (1954). Born as Dolores Stein to Barbara Gray and Henry Stein in Chicago, Dolores Gray was briefly signed with MGM, appearing in Kismet (1955) and It's Always Fair Weather(1955). Among her many stage roles, she appeared in Two on the Aisle (1951), Carnival In Flanders (1953); Destry Rides Again (1959); Sherry! (1967); and 42nd Street (1986). She also performed the lead role in Annie Get Your Gun in London (1947). Gray earned the Tony Award for her role in Carnival in Flanders even though this Broadway musical, with a script by Preston Sturges, ran for only six performances. She therefore holds a record that is unlikely to be broken: briefest run in a performance which still earned a Tony. She was best-known for her theatre roles. She recalled once "What a gift that would be to have more of a permanent record. A stage performance is just that, then it's lost. When I see movies on TV, I think, 'How great to have that.' But why look back? The decisions I made, I made. I can't change that." On September 24, 1966, Dolores Gray married Andrew J. Crevolin, a California businessman and Thoroughbred racehorse owner who won the 1954 Kentucky Derby. Despite erroneous reports in the media that they divorced, they remained married until his passing in 1992. Description above from the Wikipedia article Dolores Gray, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Michael Doven
Cast · Known for Eyes Wide Shut
Michael Doven has an extensive 25 year career as an executive producer. The CEO and founder of United Pictures Group credits as Associate Producer in box office movies grossing in the billions of dollars world wide. He is well known as the personal assistant to Tom Cruise in the height of Cruise's movie career from 1992-2004. Not only was Michael his personal assistant, he acted as the chief of staff to Cruise. During his time, he met and married Andrea Morse, who was another person working for Cruise. There are several notable movies he was a Production Associate in: Mangolia (1999), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Mission Impossible II (2000) and was the assistant to Tom Cruise in movies like Jerry Maquire (1996), The Firm (1993), Far and Away (1992), and Interview With a Vampire (1994). Other movies Michael is given credit for: A Few Good Men (1992), Vanilla Sky (2001), Minority Report (2002), The Last Samurai (2003), and Collateral (2004). He also did a little bit of acting in Murder, She Wrote (1989) and Eyes Wide Shut (1999). Michael works in script development, preproduction, production, and post production as well as assisting in marketing and international press tours. His relationships and wide variety of experiences in the industry keep him in the forefront of executive producers. In 2015, he founded United Pictures Group. He founded this company for one main reason - to carry on his passion for influential and powerful films. In a recent interview, he discusses his love for reading, and how much certain literature has inspired him to have his own company. "I read as much as I do so I can continually learn new approaches to solving the difficulties that sometimes arise during film production," he comments. "Some of the greatest minds the world has ever known have inspired me like no other. I've learned so much about myself and life, and i now know that having my own company is my calling." Under United Pictures Group, he released his first film "The Squeeze" in Spring 2015. The family-friendly movie had great reviews from both users and critics. Michael was ecstatic to release this movie, not only because it was the first movie under his new company, but because he was on the right track to producing movies that he truly loves. "The Squeeze" is about a young and talented golfer who gets caught up in some high stake gambling on the course. The suspense, alongside the unique and riveting characters, with a twist ending is right up Michael's alley. Durant's Never Closes, starring Tom Sizemore, is an exciting up-and-coming movie. Michael is ecstatic and passionate about his new opportunity. Michael is also an accomplished photographer. He is known for photographing professional golfer Rick Rhoden, Beck's sister Alyssa Suede and other high profile individuals. Michael's photography skill show when his photography work was featured in a music album, "Bittersweet" by Mark Isham and Kate Ceberano (2009). He was also featured on the cover of a Nikon magazine issue calling him "Photographer's Next Rockstar", with a 6 page article and interview. You can see his photography work here: http://www.manta.com/c/mrylxsn/michael-doven-photography. Most recent films United Pictures Group is credited for: Double Doozy (2016) Mission Accomplished (2016) Durant's Never Closes (2015) Lucky Bastards (2015)
Patty Andrews
Patty Andrews was born in Mound, Minnesota on 16 February 1918, the daughter of Peter Andreos (changed to 'Andrews' upon arriving in the US) and Olga Sollie. Her real name was Patricia Marie. Her father was a Greek Catholic immigrant and her mother a Lutheran from Norway who ran the pure food café, a Greek café in Minneapolis which was located adjacent to the Orpheum Theater. Her sisters were Lavern Sophie born July 6, 1911, died 1967 (cancer); Maxene Angelyn born Jan. 3, 1916, died October 1995 of a heart attack while on vacation at Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Peter Andrews did not think it honorable to have his daughters in show business and decided they should go back to school and become secretaries. Maxine was only four when she first appeared on her first radio broadcast in Minneapolis. By the time she was six she was entertaining at veterans hospitals, for the Mayor of Minneapolis and at Daughters of American Revolution luncheons. Laverne started the trio of sisters and they appeared in kiddie revues on local radio stations and at the Orpheum in their hometown of Minneapolis. It was there they were discovered by Larry Rich, who offered them a job with his traveling revue. Patty was only ten at the time. They began their career in New York city with Jack Belasco's orchestra and later with Ted Mack making the Vaudeville circuit. In 1937 they were heard by recording executive, Dave Kapp and they began a long association with a string of hits. In 1953, the group broke up with Laverne going to New York to study dramatics. Laverne became a career housewife and Patti stayed in show business as a single after their hopes and ambitions clashed with one another. In 1956 they regrouped and sang in Las Vegas at the Flamingo Hotel along with a host of TV offers and a new Capitol recording contract. Their first major hit was "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon", was very well liked by Nazi Germany, until the discovery that the songwriters were a Jewish race. Other top hits included "Don't Fence Me In", "Apple Blossom Time", "Rum and Coca Cola", and "I Can Dream, Can't I?", in 1937.
Adoni Maropis
Born and raised in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, a small town near Pittsburgh. He is the middle son of Petro and Despina Maropis and is very close to his brothers, Sam and Chris. Being an exceptional all-around athlete in high school (Burgettstown High-school in southwest Pennsylvania), it appeared Adoni would pursue a professional career in some sport. Turning down various athletic scholarships, he enrolled at West Virginia University and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. But, from years of being entertained by Adoni's impromptu comedic performances and impersonations which began when he was a small child, his father, Petro, told him that the suit and tie of the business world would probably choke him to death and encouraged Adoni to give acting a shot. Surprised, yet intrigued at this suggestion, Adoni enrolled at a performing arts school, Point Park College (now a University) in Pittsburgh, and studied acting, dialects, singing, and a bit of dance. His first stage role was as a freshman, even though freshman weren't allowed to perform at the time, where they needed him as an "Arabian Carrier" in The Nutcracker Sweet. Not only did Adoni get to flex his muscles in that role, but he also played the "Jack-in-the-Box" in the same production. Some of his other memorable plays and musicals were: Working, Evita, Getting Out, You Can't Take it With You, and Little Shop of Horrors where he played the man-eating plant, "Audrey II." After three years of theatre at Point Park, with the help of his younger brother Chris, he headed for Hollywood. Although Adoni is truly blessed with a more than usual dose of athletic ability and creative talent, what truly makes Adoni stand out is that he is a Type 1 Diabetic, and has been since he was 18 months old. His parents were told he would be weak and sickly, and in and out of hospitals his whole life. Ultimately, a renowned diabetic specialist told his father that most likely Adoni would be dead by the age of 25. As Adoni puts it, "I get a kick out of someone saying I can't do it." This has been proven by his numerous athletic awards and championships throughout high-school and college which involved everything - strength, speed, quickness and finesse. The list includes: tennis, basketball, baseball, football, weightlifting, arm-wrestling, fitness, and his favorite pastime, which is table tennis (ping-pong). Adoni loves being creative with his workouts which involve only 30-45 minutes per day of either running, biking, aerobics, some martial arts, or what he calls his "unique, unnatural, yet truly natural Cirque du Soleil/Tarzan workout". Some of Adoni's diverse and memorable roles include: the flamboyant evil sorcerer, Quan Chi, in the TV show "Mortal Kombat: Conquest" (1998), the sarcastic undercover agent in The Gristle (2001), "Abu-Fayed," in Season 6 of the Fox hit series "24" (2001) and the regal falcon-man in Hidalgo (2004), starring Viggo Mortensen. An inspiration to the world, Adoni will tell you that the most important ingredients to success and happiness are - love, laughter, and fitness! He credits his family and a few good friends with supplying all three.
Kenny Alfonso
Sharing a birthday with Bruce Lee and Jimi Hendrix didn't add pressure to the skinny Spanish kid, it only inspired ambition. Raised on baseball fields in Tampa, Florida, Kenny Alfonso spent most of his youth following a funny Dad and older brother around, learning to hit a curveball, and secretly wishing he was Kung Fu - Rock Star. After a brief stint in a few minor league camps, Kenny spent time as a State Attorney's Investigator and Pharmaceautical Rep before becoming a full-time actor in 1994. On film Kenny can be seen in "The Bay" Directed by Barry Levinson, "Trouble with The Curve" starring Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams and Justin Timberlake, "The Hot Flashes" starring Brooke Shields, Virginia Madsen, Wanda Sykes, Daryl Hannah and Camryn Manheim, "The Change Up" starring Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman amongst others. On TV Kenny returns this Summer for a 4th season as Attorney Joe Cummings in the Lifetime Network Hit "Drop Dead Diva". Other TV credits include; ABC Family's "Christmas Cupid, the Lifetime mini-series "Marry Me", USA Network's "Necessary Roughness", Lifetime's "Army Wives", Fox's "Prison Break" and Tyler Perry's "House of Payne" on TBS. Kenny was the Co-host and 'Barkitect' of "Barkitecture", a 'how to' show on the D.I.Y. Network and HGTV. He has appeared in over 80 national and regional commercials and has performed on stage from coast-to-coast in his one-man shows and The Goods Variety Show which he co-created. He is also the co-founder and principle owner of The Goods® Brand. Founded in 1997, TGI is the Atlanta-based entertainment and clothing company connected by The Goods® Brand and its meaning of self-belief and empowerment. Kenny makes his home in Atlanta with daughter Jessy and long time partner, actress Melissa Ponzio. - IMDb Mini Biography
Bashar Rahal
Bashar Mounzer Rahal is the second child to a Bulgarian mother Mariana Rahal - an interior designer and Lebanese father Mounzer Rahal - an OB/GYN. The family moved back to Bulgaria when Bashar was only 6 years old. He first started acting in TV sketches when he was 12. At the age of 14 he became a member of a professional theater group, called "Tears and Laughs", with which he took part in more than 15 performances including Shakespeare and Chekhov. He attended numerous international festivals, including the ones in Avignon, France and Thun, Switzerland among others. His first big screen role at the age of 15 was in 1952: Ivan i Aleksandra (1989) which was followed by more TV and Film appearances. After graduating from The First English Language High School in Sofia, Bashar attended the National Academy of Theater and Film Art, where he received his Masters in Dramatic Arts. Shortly after graduation he was accepted as a permanent member of the national youth theatre and was a guest actor at The National Theatre Sofia Bulgaria. For the next couple of years Bashar appeared in over 25 different TV comedy shows, but became most popular with the hit TV show "It Can't Be"equivalent of SNL ,created & directed by Nellie Andreeva .The show won " Golden Melon", for best comedy show - the most prestigious TV award in Bulgaria. In 1997 Bashar hosted "The Late Night Show" on Channel 3 Sofia , where he met his co-host and future wife Kalina Rahal. In 1999 the couple moved to California so that Bashar could pursue his acting career. He was granted Alien of Extra Ordinary ability as an actor. He is a graduate from the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in Los Angeles. For a long time he was considered to play Azamat Bagatov in Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. Initially Bashar was not considered to play in Joshua Seftel's Political Satire War ,Inc. but the producers Danny Lerner and Les Weldon convinced both John Cusack and the Director Seftel that he is the best choice for the part. After the end of the shooting Cusack and Seftel admitted that Bashar had developed the best character. Later Danny Lerner casted Bashar as a lead in his upcoming action movie Direct Contact. Recently he was casted to play Boris in Dominic Sena's "Whiteout",starring Kate Beckinsale.
Samson Raphaelson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Samson Raphaelson (March 30, 1894 in New York City – July 16, 1983 in New York City) was an American screenwriter and playwright. Born in New York City, Raphaelson worked on nine films with Ernst Lubitsch, including Trouble in Paradise (1932), The Shop Around the Corner (1939), Heaven Can Wait (1943), and That Lady in Ermine (1948). He also collaborated with Alfred Hitchcock on Hitchcock's Suspicion (1941). He is the author of the play Day of Atonement, which was made into The Jazz Singer (1927), the first talking picture, produced by Warner Brothers in the Vitaphone sound-on-disc process. Samson Raphaelson was also Ernst Lubitsch's favorite screenwriter. Samson Raphaelson considered Suspicion to be "in many ways my best screenplay." Raphaelson also co-wrote Lubitsch's only sound-era drama Broken Lullaby (The Man I Killed, 1932). Though praised by playwright Robert E. Sherwood as "the best talking picture that has yet been seen and heard," the film was a box office flop. Aside from his more popular work, Raphaelson also wrote the college fight song for the University of Illinois in 1921. Titled, "Fight, Illini!: The Stadium Song" the music was composed by Rose J. Oltusky. In 1977 the Writers Guild of America Awards granted him the "Laurel" for lifetime achievement. He taught playwriting at Columbia University until the last years of his life. His wife Dorshka (Dorothy Wegman) (1904-2005) was the author of 'Morning Song' and, until her death in 2005, was the second oldest surviving Ziegfeld Follies dancer. His nephew is filmmaker Bob Rafelson, and his grandson is photographer Paul Raphaelson. Description above from the Wikipedia article Samson Raphaelson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Tiffany Evans
Tiffany Evans is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Evans rose to fame in 2003 as a contestant on Star Search, she became the first contestant in Star Search history to earn a perfect score on all of her performances. Following Evans' victory, she signed a record deal with Columbia Records in the same year. Her self-titled debut album was released in 2008 and included the singles "Promise Ring" featuring Ciara and "I'm Grown" featuring Bow Wow. She got her first break on Showtime at the Apollo at the age of 9. In February 2003, in her Star Search appearance, Evans won the Grand Champion title in the junior singer division, becoming the only performer in Star Search history to receive perfect five scores on all of her appearances. Evans guest starred in an episode of Law & Order: SVU, playing actor Blair Underwood's daughter. That same year, she sang for executives at Columbia Records and was offered a recording contract deal at 10 years old. With her musical career already on the upswing, she landed a small role on CBS's The District. In 2005, Evans made her feature film debut in Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman as Brian Simmons' daughter, played by Perry himself. She also contributed to the movie soundtrack on "Father, Can You Hear Me" featuring Cheryl Pepsii Riley, Tamela Mann, Terrell Carter, and Anya Washington. After signing with Columbia Records, her first single "Let Me Be Your Angel", a cover of Stacy Lattisaw's song was released in 2004 with a music video. Soon after, her self-titled debut EP featuring eight tracks (all covers) and a bonus DVD was released. One additional single "The Christmas Song" was digitally released, as well as her rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner". She began work on a new album, with a couple of digital singles (2005's "Thinkin' About" and 2006's "Who I Am") released. On May 29, 2007, Evans released "Promise Ring" featuring Grammy-winning R&B singer Ciara as the lead single for her self-titled debut album. Evans' second single, "I'm Grown" featuring Bow Wow was released on January 22, 2008. Evans' debut album Tiffany Evans was released April 22, 2008 via Columbia Records. After signing a management deal with Mathew Knowles of Music World Entertainment, Evans released "I'll Be There" on October 18, 2010 as the lead single off her second album titled Perfect Imperfection. Unfortunately, promotion for the album was ceased after Evans announced on March 29, 2011 her departure from Music World Entertainment and Columbia Records. Following her departure, Evans started her own company called Little Lady Enterprises, which served as her independent label. On October 1, 2011 Tiffany Evans released a buzz single entitled "Won't Find Me". Her mixtape "143" was released on February 12, 2013. On November 4, 2014, Evans released "Baby Don't Go" as a buzz single as she worked on her new EP. The song was featured in an episode of Love & Hip Hop: New York. Evans launched her eyewear company Eye Hunee in December 2014. On April 13, 2015 a new single "Red Wine" was released via Live Love. On June 22, Evans released "On Sight" featuring Fetty Wap as the first single from her All Me EP. In summer 2020, Evans formed an R&B duo with Jawan Harris called Jawan x Tiffany. On October 23, 2020, they released their first single "Finally".
Christian Finnegan
Fletcher Christian Finnegan (born April 1, 1973), better known as Christian Finnegan, is an American stand-up comedian, writer and actor based in New York City. Finnegan was born in Albany, New York. He grew up in Acton, Massachusetts, and attended The Walnut Hill School, a boarding/day high school focused on programs in the performing, visual, and creative arts and located in Natick, Massachusetts. Christian is perhaps best known as one of the original panelists on VH1's Best Week Ever and as Chad, the only white roommate in the “Mad Real World” sketch on Comedy Central's Chappelle's Show. He can currently be seen as co-host of "Black and White", a series airing on A&E which he created and executive produces. He also co-stars in the TBS series Are We There Yet?. He also co-hosted Zest TV’s web travel show “CustomNATION” and his own music-centric podcast “Audio Spackle” which debuted on Cave Comedy Radio in January 2013. Finnegan has been a fixture on Comedy Central, having starred in his own half-hour special Premium Blend, one hour stand up special “Au Contraire”, as well as Comedy Central Presents: Christian Finnegan and countless network interstitials. He served as a writer for Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn on which he also appeared as a guest. Finnegan's stand up was also featured in Comedy Central's animated series Shorties Watchin' Shorties. Additional television appearances as himself or performing stand up have included “Conan”, “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”, "Would You Rather...with Graham Norton", “Good Afternoon America” and multiple times on The Today Show and Countdown with Keith Olbermann, and on History's I Love the 1880s. He hosted TV Land's game show "Game Time". As an actor, Finnegan portrayed the supporting role of "Carl" in the film Eden Court, a ticket agent in "Knight and Day" and several guest roles including a talk show host on "The Good Wife". In October 2006, Finnegan's debut stand up comedy CD titled Two For Flinching was released by Comedy Central Records, with a follow-up national tour of college campuses from January to April 2007. “Au Contraire!” was released by Warner Bros. Records in 2009. His third special "The Fun Part" was filmed at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston on April 4, 2013 and debuted on Netflix on April 15, 2014. On December 31, 2014 Finnegan appeared on Ken Reid's TV Guidance Counselor Podcast. On July 27, 2016, he and comedian Sherrod Small began to co-host Black and White, a comedy/talk show on A&E that takes a humorous look at race relations in America. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Luke Edwards
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Lucas Daniel "Luke" Edwards (born March 24, 1980) is an American actor. He began taking acting lessons for fun on his mother's suggestion and landed his first television role in 1988 on an ABC Afterschool Special episode. He had roles in the films 'The Wizard, Guilty By Suspicion, Newsies, Mother's Boys, Little Big League, American Pie 2, Jeepers Creepers 2, Debating Robert Lee, Graphic, Turn Me On, Dead Man, and Disarmed. He wrapped up filming Little Odessa in 2009. He has had varied success with television, with guest appearances on Roseanne, 21 Jump Street, Molloy (with Mayim Bialik), Parker Lewis Can't Lose, Not of This World, Davis Rules, Human Target, Strange World, Undressed, Night Visions, Without a Trace, Close to Home, and Privileged. He was also in made-for-television movies I Know My First Name is Steven, The Yarn Princess, The Little Riders, Cheaters, Shadow Realm, and Devil's Run (straight to video). He continues to act professionally, and is set to film Jeepers Creepers 3, due out sometime around 2011. He starred in "'The Wizard'" (1989) with Fred Savage, Beau Bridges, Christian Slater, and Jenny Lewis. Edwards played the role of Jimmy Woods, a young gaming prodigy who could master any game he could play even without having ever played it before. Traumatized by the sudden drowning death of his twin sister that also resulted in a divorce, Jimmy (Edwards) and his brother Corey (Savage) go to California, the only word Jimmy utters for a good portion of the movie. In trying to figure out what exactly "California" means, they embark on a journey and end up entering a video game tournament. Jimmy wins the competition with the game Super Mario Bros. 3, and on the way back he sees "California" - a tourist stop with a dinosaur exhibit that their family stopped into when his twin was still alive. Description above from the Wikipedia article Luke Edwards, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia
Ken Lynch
Cast · Known for North by Northwest
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Kenneth E. Lynch (July 15, 1910 – February 13, 1990) was an American radio, film, and television actor with more than 180 credits to his name. He was generally known for portraying law enforcement officers and detectives. Early life Kenneth Englehart Lynch was born on July 15, 1910, in Albany, New York, the only child of Bertha Dietzel and Charles William Lynch. His father was a native of Woburn, Massachusetts, who started his career as a coffee salesman, and then became a creamery owner in Troy, New York. His mother was from Yonkers, New York, a third generation German-American. His middle name was his maternal grandmother's maiden name. Career He appeared in numerous television series. He made three guest appearances on Perry Mason, including the role of Wallace Lang in "The Case of the Stuttering Bishop" in 1959, Robert Hayden in "The Case of the Irate Inventor" in 1960 and Customs Inspector Wendel in "The Case of the Floating Stones" in 1963. Some of the other series in which Lynch appeared are Peter Gunn, Zorro, Have Gun - Will Travel ("Fight at Adobe Wells"), Gunsmoke (“Bureaucrat” & “The Patsy”), Checkmate ("Cyanide Touch"), woman"), Checkmate ("Born To Hang"), The Asphalt Jungle, Straightaway, The Honeymooners, The Fugitive, The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Blue Light, Adam-12, Star Trek ("The Devil in the Dark") Season 1, Episode 25 as Chief Engineer Vanderberg in 1967, Maverick, All In The Family (in the famous episode, "Archie and the Lockup", where he played Guard Callaghan), The Twilight Zone ("Mr. Denton on Doomsday"), The Rifleman, and The Wild Wild West. In 1960 Lynch appeared as Al Killmer in the TV western series Lawman in the episode titled "The Escape of Joe Killmer." He played The Freighter in S8 E26 "The Jarbo Pierce Story" on "Wagon Train", 1965. Between 1972 and 1977, he made 16 guest appearances on McCloud, performing as a police sergeant and later a detective named Grover on the series. In September 1974, he appeared in the very first episode of the cult classic, Kolchak:The Night Stalker, playing a police captain. He previously appeared in 12 episodes of Gunsmoke, 10 episodes of The F.B.I., nine episodes of Bonanza, and six episodes in both The Virginian and Gomer Pyle, USMC. Among the feature films in which he appeared are I Married a Monster from Outer Space, North By Northwest, The Lawbreakers, Pork Chop Hill, Anatomy of a Murder and Tora! Tora! Tora!. He appeared in Battlestar Galactica as Dr Horning in episode 22, "Experiment in Terra" (1979). Lynch's last credited performance was in the role of Rear Admiral Talbot Gray in the 1983 seven-part miniseries The Winds of War. Flower business Even though Lynch still had a very successful career as an actor by the 1970s, he began looking for another, more steady source of income. He explained in a 1975 newspaper interview: "In acting you just can't predict the jobs that will come along. If you could, you could budget." Death Lynch died at age 79 from a virus on February 13, 1990, in Burbank, California. He was buried at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, Los Angeles. CLR
Juliet Prowse
Juliet Anne Prowse was a dancer, whose four-decade career included stage, television and film. She was raised in South Africa, where her family emigrated after World War II. Known for her attractive legs, she was described after her death as having "... arguably the best legs since Betty Grable." In her early twenties, she was dancing at a club in Paris when she was spotted by a talent agent and eventually signed to play the role of Claudine in the Walter Lang film Can-Can. It was during the filming of Can-Can in 1959 that she captured the international spotlight. Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev visited the set of the film and after Prowse performed a rather saucy can-can for the Russian leader, he proclaimed her dance immoral. The publicity brought Prowse considerable attention in the United States. Prowse met Frank Sinatra on the set of Can-Can. Time magazine did not rate the movie highly, but declared Prowse the best thing in it: "In fact, the only thing really worth seeing is Juliet Prowse, a young South African hoofer who puts some twinkle in the stub-toed choreography. And the only thing really worth hearing is the crack that Frank flips back at Juliet when she whips a redoubtable hip in his direction. "Don't point", he gasps. "It's rude." She would go on to appear with Sinatra and other notable guests such as Ella Fitzgerald, Peter Lawford, Hermione Gingold, the Hi-Lo's, Red Norvo, Nelson Riddle and his orchestra on the 1959 Frank Sinatra Show. She at times would sing in the chorus with other guests or Sinatra would sing to her. Sinatra invited Prowse to join him in Las Vegas, even though she was living with the actor Nico Minardos at the time. Sinatra and Prowse announced their engagement in 1962. Soon afterwards they broke up, reportedly because Prowse wanted to concentrate on her career. Prowse later admitted, "I was as much flattered as I was in love. He (Sinatra) was a complex person, and after a few drinks he could be very difficult." Prowse co-starred alongside Elvis Presley in G.I. Blues. During shooting of the film, they had a short and intense fling. "Elvis and I had an affair. ... We had a sexual attraction like two healthy young people, but he was already a victim of his fans. We always met in his room and never went out." Prowse also made a brief cameo appearance in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer documentary film, Elvis: That's the Way. She starred with Denny Scott Miller on her own NBC sitcom in the 1965-1966 season: Mona McCluskey, which was produced by George Burns. The series was based on the idea that the couple, Mike and Mona McCluskey, would live on his military salary, rather than her lucrative earnings as an actress. In the late 1980s, she was mauled by an 80-pound leopard – twice. Once, while filming a scene for Circus of the Stars in 1987 and later that same year rehearsing a promotional stunt on The Tonight Show, when the same leopard attacked her. The later attack was more serious, requiring upwards of twenty stitches to reattach her ear.
Rick James
James Ambrose Johnson Jr. (February 1, 1948 – August 6, 2004), better known by his stage name Rick James, was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, Rick James began his musical career in his teenage years. He was in various bands before entering the U.S. Naval Reserve to avoid being drafted into the Army. In 1964, James moved to Toronto, Canada, where he formed the rock band The Mynah Birds, who eventually signed a recording deal with Motown Records in 1966. James's career with the group halted after military authorities discovered his whereabouts and eventually convicted him of desertion related charges. He served several months in jail. After being released, James moved to California, where he started a variety of rock and funk groups in the late 1960s and early 1970s. After forming the locally popular Stone City Band in his hometown of Buffalo in 1977, James finally found success as a recording artist after signing with Motown's Gordy Records, releasing the album Come Get It! in 1978 which produced the hits "You and I" and "Mary Jane". In 1981, James released his most successful album, Street Songs, which included career-defining hits such as "Give It to Me Baby" and "Super Freak", the latter song becoming his biggest crossover single, mixing elements of funk, disco, rock, and new wave. James was also known for his soulful ballads such as "Fire & Desire" and "Ebony Eyes". He also had a successful career as a songwriter and producer for other artists, including Teena Marie, the Mary Jane Girls, The Temptations, Eddie Murphy, and Smokey Robinson. James's mainstream success peaked by the release of his album Glow in 1985 and his appearance on the popular TV show, The A-Team. His subsequent album releases failed to sell as well as their predecessors. Rapper MC Hammer sampled "Super Freak" for his breakout 1990 hit, "U Can't Touch This", which won Best R&B Song at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards in 1991. James received his only Grammy for composing the song. By the early 1990s, James's career was hampered by his drug addiction, and he was embroiled in legal issues. In 1993, he was convicted of two separate instances of kidnapping and assaulting two different women while under the influence of crack cocaine, resulting in a three-year sentence at Folsom State Prison. He was released on parole in 1996. His health problems halted his career again after he had a mild stroke during a concert in 1998, and he announced a semi-retirement. In 2004, James returned to pop culture notoriety after he appeared in an episode of Chappelle's Show. The segment involved a Charlie Murphy True Hollywood Stories-style sketch that satirized James's wild lifestyle in the 1980s. This resulted in renewed interest in his music, and that year he returned to perform on the road. He died later that year from heart failure at age 56. Description above from the Wikipedia article Rick James, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Felipe Rose
Felipe Rose (born 12 January 1954) is an American musician who was an original member of the disco group the Village People. While in the group, he performed as a Native American character - usually wearing a costume consisting of an imitation war bonnet, loincloth and theatrical face paint. Rose was a member of the group from 1977 until 2017, when the name of the group was turned over to original lead singer Victor Willis. Rose subsequently launched a solo career and released the single "Going Back to My Roots" in 2018. Felipe Ortiz Rose was born in Manhattan to a Puerto Rican mother. He currently claims Lakota/Taino descent, but at other times has said he is Apache. He was raised in Brooklyn, where he displayed an interest in the arts during his childhood. His mother was his main inspiration as she herself had been a dancer for the Copacabana during the 1940s and 1950s. Rose began as a nightclub dancer. He describes being encouraged by an aunt to begin dancing "in his father's tribal regalia", which he says led to his costume in the Village People. Rose was working as a dancer and a bartender in the gay New York discotheque The Anvil, dressed "as an [American] Indian" when he was discovered by French producer Jacques Morali and executive producer Henri Belolo and so became the first recruit for Village People. In 1977, Village People had their first hit with "San Francisco", although this song became a hit only in the United Kingdom. Then in 1978 they had their first hits in the U.S. with "Macho Man" followed by "YMCA". He is a member of the band's board of directors, called Sixuvus Ltd ("six of us" - named for the six members of the Village People). In 2000, Rose began to work on his solo career. His single "Trails of Tears" won a NAMMY (Native American Music Awards) for Best Historical Recording. In 2002, Rose was the opening act of the fifth Annual Native American Music Awards celebrated at the Marcus Amphitheatre in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His media company is the "Tomahawk Group". Rose has appeared in the movies Can't Stop the Music (1980), The Best of Village People (1993), and Feathers and Leathers: The Story of the Village People (1999). He also participated in the 2000 documentary, Village People: The E! True Hollywood Story. For a time Rose lived in Richmond, Virginia, and briefly in Jersey City, New Jersey, though he found it to be too crowded. In a 2008 interview, he stated that approximately four or five years prior, he moved to Asbury Park, New Jersey on the advice of several friends who lived there, saying, "So I came down and I just fell in love with the shore... I love the diversity of Asbury because it brings everyone together. There is a very large gay and lesbian community here, but the diversity of artists is amazing; it’s become very bohemian." Source: Article "Felipe Rose" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Tatyana Ali
Tatyana Marisol Ali (born January 24, 1979) is an American actress and singer. She's best known for her role as Ashley Banks on the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. At the age of four she started singing and got a taste of fame when she begged her mother to take her to an audition for Sesame Street. In 1985, as a 6-year-old, she began her acting career as a regular performer on the PBS children's educational program Sesame Street. She went on to perform in many productions in her native city, New York, including the Broadway show Fences--with James Earl Jones and, later, Billy Dee Williams--and the off-Broadway show Orfeo del Campo. When she was seven, she appeared on Star Search and won twice, receiving a four-star rating when she appeared for a second time. At age 11, she moved from New York to Los Angeles to establish her career and not long afterwords landed her breakthrough role as Ashley Banks, Will Smith's character's cousin, on the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996). While filming The Fresh Prince, she also had side projects, including guest roles in television shows such as The Cosby Show (1984), The All New Mickey Mouse Club (1989) (aka The Mickey Mouse Club), Kyno's Storytime (1992), Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1990), and Foster's Field Trip (1994). Her vocal talent was featured on several episodes of Fresh Prince in later seasons, prompting the show's star Will Smith to ask her if she would seriously consider pursuing a musical career. She ultimately decided, for the time being, to continue to concentrate on her acting career. In the series' final season, however, she performed several songs, and she began to be cleaned for her musical debut, the culmination of which was her debut album Kiss The Sky in 1998. It was certified gold in early 1999, only months after its release. "Boy You Knock Me Out" featuring Will Smith—which peaked at No. 3 and is her biggest hit to date. She made an appearance on Smith's album Willennium on the track "Who Am I" with MC Lyte. In early 2008, she performed on the song "Yes We Can", a will.i.am project supporting Barack Obama's presidential campaign. She also appeared in the subsequent music video, which garnered coverage on the "What the Buzz" segment of ABC's World News Now. In January 2014, she released an EP titled Hello. Apart from her musical career, she continued to land roles in films such as The Brothers, Glory Road, and Nora's Hair Salon (and its sequel), among others. From 2009 to 2010 she produced and starred in the BET web series Buppies. She was on recurring status on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless as Roxanne from 2007 to 2013. She starred in the TV One original series Love That Girl! as Tyana (whose name was derived from Ali's given name). In 2013, she co-starred as Maya in the BET comedy Second Generation Wayans, alongside Craig Wayans and Damien Dante Wayans. In 2011, she received the Living Legacy Award from the Caribbean Heritage Organization in Los Angeles.